Pat Dougherty Photo: Supplied / Wellington Water
The director of Wellington Water's board has taken up the top job at the company.
Wellington Water has announced Pat Dougherty as its chief executive after Tonia Haskell resigned last month.
Her resignation came after an independent report into the entity that found staff took four months to tell the region's councils about a budget error leaving a $51 million bill over three years.
Dougherty has been the chief executive of Nelson City Council and Kāpiti Coast District Council and was appointed the board director of Wellington Water last year.
Its chairperson Nick Leggett noted that appointing a director to step in as chief executive, while not unheard of, was unusual.
"Wellington Water faces a unique set of challenges. We are rebuilding trust with our council shareholders, their communities, and our iwi mana whenua partners off the back of recent events.
"We need someone who can improve the company's performance in short order and give confidence to the committed and skilled people who work in the organisation."
Leggett said Dougherty was the right person for the job.
Dougherty said he was excited to take on the role as chief executive.
"The work we do at Wellington Water is essential to the region, our councils, and our communities.
"Our responsibility is to continue to deliver safe and compliant water services and ensure our organisation, and our people, are as well set up as possible to transition to a new asset owning water entity."